Nearly 400 Sentenced in Nigeria for Militant Links
Nearly 400 people have been sentenced in Nigeria. They were linked to militant Islamic groups. The convictions followed mass trials.
Mass Trials in Nigeria
The convicts received sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment. They were tied to Boko Haram or a rival splinter group. That group is called Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap).
Pressure on the Government
The trials come at a difficult time. The government faces intense pressure to curb rising insecurity. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous state.Security forces are battling multiple armed groups. These include militant Islamists and separatists. Kidnapping-for-ransom gangs are also active.
A Long History of Violence
Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009. It started in the north-east. Aid groups say the group has killed tens of thousands of people. More than two million have been displaced.On Wednesday, the US urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Nigeria. The reason is the deteriorating security situation.
